Texas Field Trips for Homeschoolers

Your backpacks are stuffed with snacks, car games, and an extra change of clothes. You have your route mapped out on your GPS. You’ve even checked ahead on picnic areas and restroom facilities. It must be FIELD TRIP day in your homeschool!! Whether you are visiting the state of Texas as a homeschooling tourist or are a family who is searching for educational things to do in Texas with children, this great big state has plenty to offer.

In Texas, day trips are one of the best ways to spice up a slow homeschool month. Plus, learning through field trips is the kind of learning that will often stick with your student far longer than something they read in a textbook or even watch on a video. To help you locate places to visit in Texas with children, we’ve organized them by geographical area. Browse the list below to find the educational field trips in Texas that are perfect for homeschool families. Plan out each of your learning adventures on this printable Texas map from Time4Learning. Please make sure to contact each site before you plan your visit. Plus, as a bonus, we’ve even included a free download of Time4Learning lesson tie-ins (at the end of this article) that might be the perfect supplement for each trip!

Homeschool Field Trips in North Texas

• Amarillo Museum of Art, Amarillo – As if going to see a museum showcasing paintings, photography, textiles, and sculpture weren’t enough, this one even has a Museum School in the spring and fall for students ages 4 to 11! Be sure to contact the museum to request a copy of their yearly educational guide, too.

• Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Cedar Hill – When the weather beckons you to go on a hummingbird hunt or take in a picnic, you’ll want to head straight to this natural playground. With over two miles of hiking trails, this is the place to go when you need to stretch your legs.

• Heritage Farmstead Museum, Plano – Step back into 19th and early 20th century Blackland Prairie history at this interactive educational site where students can learn from docents in period dress, explore a one-room schoolhouse, and see a working blacksmith’s shop. There are plenty of teacher resources to download before or after your visit, as well.

• Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, Canyon – You can get acquainted with 500 million years of history in Texas’ largest historical museum. From dinosaurs to modern art, from saddles to automobiles, there is always something to see and do!

Homeschool Field Trips in East Texas

• Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas – From the Wright flyer to the Apollo VII spacecraft, this museum has plenty of stories to tell of the amazing gravity-defying feats throughout aviation history. Homeschoolers can view over 30 air and space crafts while building S.T.E.A.M. skills through educational programs at the site.

• Southwest Dairy Museum and Education Center, Sulphur Springs – The dairy industry has a long history in the southwest, and you can find out all about it at this unique field trip locale. Homeschoolers will be especially interested to see how dairy farmers got things done before the advent of electricity.

• Texas Energy Museum, Beaumont – Explore the fascinating world of petroleum science & technology from the geological formation of oil to modern refining chemistry. This small museum offers plenty of hands-on displays that will intrigue active learners.

• Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Athens – Visitors to the center will learn about both sport fishing in Texas as well as aquatic conservation efforts in the state. There are multiple educational opportunities to investigate aquatic invertebrates, water quality, and fish identification. Daily dive shows will fascinate homeschoolers of all ages.

Are you a Dallas homeschool family? Discover even more opportunities for homeschool field trips in Dallas.

Homeschool Field Trips in Central Texas

• Abilene Zoological Gardens, Abilene – Your animal lovers will be entranced by the Abilene Zoo, with more than 500 animals representing over 200 species to see and learn about. Homeschool teens who live locally may want to find out more about their Zoo Teens program.

• Inner Space Cavern, Georgetown – Take a ride underground with an informative guide to see and learn about one of the best preserved underground caves in Texas. Students can earn a Junior Cave Scientist badge at the site, as well.

• Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, San Antonio – If an African safari is something your children have dreamed of, they will thoroughly enjoy this chance to view, photograph & feed species from all over the world right from their own vehicle.

• Thinkery, Austin – This S.T.E.A.M.-focused destination will build curiosity and imagination in your future scientists. Each gallery supports hands-on, play-based learning, with activities and content appropriate for visitors with children of all ages.

Are you a San Antonio homeschool family? Discover even more opportunities for homeschool field trips in San Antonio.

Homeschool Field Trips in South Texas

• Imaginarium of South Texas, Laredo – With special educational programs such as Dynamic Dinos and Nature Explorers, children will love getting hands-on with their education at this interactive museum. Families will find hundreds of ways to imagine, design, invent, and create together here.

• Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center, McAllen – The Rio Grande Valley has long been recognized as a world-class birding destination. Quinta Mazatlan attracts many of the favorite “Valley specialties” found no place else in the country.

• Sea Turtle, Inc., South Padre Island – The mission of this organization is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured sea turtles, educate the public, and assist with conservation efforts for all marine turtle species. Educational presentations are offered throughout the day.

Homeschool Field Trips in West Texas

• American Wind Power Museum, Lubbock – Over 70 historic windmills are available to view at this unique location. The Wind Energy Experience Center showcases the Wingen turbine, and there is a large millstone collection to explore as well.

• El Paso Museum of Archaeology, El Paso – Homeschoolers can get up close and personal with 14,000 years of prehistory in the El Paso area, the greater Southwest, and northern Mexico. There are also 15 acres of outdoor exhibits and an Indian Garden to explore.

• Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Salt Flat – Guadalupe Mountains sit on top of Carlsbad Caverns, so plan to visit both on your trip. There are miles and miles of hiking trails here, so keep an eye out for mule deer who live throughout the park.

• Museum of the Southwest, Midland – This field trip features an Art Museum, Children’s Museum, and a Planetarium all in one. Don’t miss the 15 sculptures on the grounds of the museum, either. Family Fridays programs offer sessions for children ages 4 to 12.

Do you have additional TX field trip ideas we’ve not mentioned here? Add them in the comments or share them on our Texas Homeschool Support forum.